Who are forest rangers? Regulations on equipment for operating of forest rangers in Vietnam

Who are forest rangers? Regulations on equipment for operating of forest rangers in Vietnam (Source: Internet)

1. Who are forest rangers?

According to Article 103 of Vietnam's Law on Forestry 2017, forest rangers are organizations that are responsible for managing and protecting forests and ensuring compliance with regulations of law on forestry; and play a role as forces specialized in fire safety.

2. Equipment for operating of forest rangers

According to Article 12 of Vietnam's Decree 01/2019/ND-CP stipulating equipment to ensure the activities of forest rangers as follows:

- Forest rangers shall be uniformly equipped with forest rangers uniforms, badge, stripes, flags, and forest rangers’ identity cards.

+ Uniforms of forest rangers consist of three types for use in winter, summer, formal occasions and accessories;

+ Forest rangers badges pinned on caps;

+ Forest protection insignia pinned on the left sleeve;

+ Forest rangers stripes pinned on shoulder-straps or collars;

+ Forest rangers flags attached to patrol facilities of forest rangers;

+ Flag with forest rangers’ symbol used in meetings celebrating the anniversary of the force’s establishment or in ceremonies of awarding from the Party or the Government to the force.

+ Forest rangers’ identity cards are issued to forest rangers to perform their tasks and power in accordance with law and prove that they are officers on duty.

To issue together with Vietnam's Decree 01/2019/ND-CP the Appendix I on forest rangers uniforms, badge, stripes, flags, and the form of forest rangers’ identity card.

- Forest rangers are provided with weapons and combat gear for use in accordance with law; are equipped with modern facilities and professional equipment for the forest management, inspection, forest fire safety, patrol, examination and handling violations in forestry.

- Funds for operation of forest rangers are allocated from the State budget and other sources in accordance with law.

+ The State budget shall provide funding for the daily operation and provision of weapons, combat gear, facilities, professional equipment and uniforms of forest rangers units which are affiliated to the Government;

+ The provincial budget shall provide funding for the daily operation and provision of weapons, combat gear, facilities, professional equipment and uniforms of forest rangers units which are under the management of that locality.

3. Benefits for forest rangers

The benefits for forest rangers are prescribed in Article 13 of Decree 01/2019/ND-CP as follows:

- Forest rangers shall be paid according to their grades, ranks, titles and other benefits in accordance with law.

- Forest rangers that are injured or killed during performance of their duty shall be entitled to the same benefits as those for war invalids and martyrs in accordance with law on incentives to people with meritorious services to the revolution.

4. Responsibilities and rights of forest rangers

Responsibilities and rights of forest rangers under Article 104 of Vietnam's Law on Forestry 2017 are as follows:

* Responsibilities of forest rangers:

- Develop programs or plans for forest protection, response to violations against regulations of law on forestry and fire safety;

- Protect reserve forests and protection forests; cooperate with relevant authorities in protecting public forests that have not been allocated or leased out;

- Warn or forecast risks of forest fires; organize forest fire safety forces and inspect annual forest development;

- Take preventive measures, inspect, supervise and take actions against violations against regulations of law on forest protection and use and forest products transport, trade, storage and processing.

- Instruct forest owners to make and implement forest fire safety plans; provide refresher courses in forest protection and forest fire safety for forest owners;

- Disseminate and raise people's awareness of forest protection and development; organize the public to protect their local forests;

- Perform other tasks assigned by competent state authorities.

* Rights of forest rangers:

- Request relevant authorities or entities to provide information or documents serving their duties performance;

- Impose penalties for administrative violations and take preventive measures therefor; file an appeal or investigate violations against regulations of law on forest;

- Use dedicated instruments or equipment, weapons, combat gear and uniforms in compliance with regulations of law.

Quoc Dat

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